INTRICACIES OF A MINISTER’S MINISKIRT PROPOSAL.

You must know Mutula. Mutula Kilonzo.  If you were betting on a Kenyan Minister who would fearlessly voice their honest to goodness opinion on a particular issue, then he would probably be your best bet. Not long ago, he was moved from the Justice Ministry to that of Education. While he was the Justice Minister, he rubbed some members of the political class the wrong way, following his highly publicized opinion on those not fit to run for the country’s top job.  

A Kenyan high school girl donning a miniskirt - The Education Minister has proposed that the garb be allowed in schools.

The then Justice Minister openly expressed that he was of the view that two presidential aspirants facing criminal charges at the ICC keep off seeking elective posts. He observed that one cannot be facing charges of crimes against humanity, and then seek to lead the same humanity. He further added that if that was not commonsense, then he didn’t know what was.  I wouldn’t have put it better myself!

But this particular post is not about the ICC, nor is it about who should or shouldn’t run for the presidency. Far from it! Thing is, Mutula Kilonzo has made headlines again! In his latest round of eyeball rolling phrases, the Education Minister has proposed that high school girls be allowed to wear miniskirts to school!! The heat wave generated by this debate has seen some sections of the public totally agree with the Minister while others bay for his blood!!! Well, metaphorically speaking!

Kenya's Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo when he voiced the proposal.

In his words, the Education Minister argued that “our girls do not want to become nuns; they just want to be ordinary Kenyan citizens.”  He added that cases had been reported of schools where girls had gone on strike after their schools’ administrators denied them permission to wear miniskirts. The Catholic Church has cried foul over the Minister’s remarks as regards nuns, and demanded that he apologizes for the same. Here goes the tale. Sections of the public opposed to the Minister’s proposal have accused him of wanting to promote immorality among school going children. Those in favor of Mutula’s proposal have however argued that it’s about time Kenya woke up to the realities of the 21^st century already!

By denying high school girls the freedom to wear miniskirts to school, those in favor of the Minister’s idea are of the opinion that more girl schools would go on strike. They further add that the girls’ self esteem would be headed southwards if they were forced to wear clothes they are not comfortable in. This, they say will reflect on their poor performance in school work. 

High School girls in long skirts which are mandatory in most schools - The outfit has been the subject of heated debate in the country.

While those opposed to this bid have raised the morality question, noting that the miniskirt is provocative garb that could see to an increase in defilement cases, proposers have begged to differ. They argue that men are not animals, and hence have the instinct and capacity to bottle up their feelings and keep off the school girls, adding that the whole question of defilement rested with an individual’s moral standing.

  

Those opposed to the bid have further argued that the girls need to understand that high school has its rules, which must be followed to the letter. They further add that the girls have the freedom to wear miniskirts outside the school vicinity but not to school. This point is not without a counter statement from those who would like girls to be allowed to wear miniskirts to school; they reason that miniskirts are a fashion item in the 21^st century, adding that the wheels of fashion evolution would not grind to a halt on account of rules that aren’t cast on stone.

And the debate rages on!! This is one subject that has grabbed news headlines of newspapers, radio and television stations, and of course social networks – this should have come first on the list! Judging from the comments that have been dominating these media, it is clear that sharp stands have been taken by both the proposers and those opposed to the Minister’s idea. 

Having furnished you with the arguments brought up by both sides, I bet you got down thinking about the subject yourself. If you were tasked with making the call on whether high school girls should be allowed to wear miniskirts to school, what would your verdict be and why?